Manchester United youngster Demetri Mitchell scored a hat-trick on Saturday afternoon, as the club’s under-18 side beat their Newcastle United counterparts 3-2 .

The 17-year-old winger netted twice in the first half to put his side 2-0 up.

Sean Longstaff’s goal gave the Magpies hope before Mitchell grabbed his third with 26 minutes to play. That was ultimately enough to seal the victory, despite a late second for Newcastle courtesy of Kyle Cameron.

Mitchell’s latest achievement continues his impressive trajectory and suggests it is only a matter of time before he is shining – and scoring – at a higher level for the club.

Rumours earlier this summer suggested Southampton were among the sides keen to take the United player on loan. But for now he remains at the club, with Louis van Gaal allegedly hoping to tie him down to a new long-term deal sooner rather than later.

Mitchell made headlines last month when he scored four goals in United’s 11-0 victory over Goal Coast Academy.

Having also played a role in England under-17’s European Championship victory earlier this year, and having voiced his ambition to follow teammate Wayne Rooney into the senior Three Lions squad, more performances like Saturday’s will only be a good thing for United’s latest teenage talent.

Vincent Ralph

After graduating with a degree in English Literature, Vincent completed a NCTJ-accredited qualification in newspaper and magazine journalism in 2005. He has worked for HITC for four years and is now Head of Editorial and Journalist Standards.